Kalin Lucas Named Big Ten Player of the Week

Jan. 12, 2009

EAST LANSING, Mich. - MSU sophomore guard Kalin Lucas was named Big Ten Player of the Week by the conference office on Monday. Lucas averaged 21.0 points per game to lead the Spartans to a pair of victories over Ohio State and defending national champion Kansas last week.

In Tuesday's contest against the Buckeyes, Lucas scored 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. He then went on to put up 22 points against Kansas on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor and 9-of-10 from the line. His performance marked his third 20-point game of the season and fourth of his career. The Sterling Heights, Mich., native also tied a season high, shooting 3-of-4 from three-point range while adding five rebounds against the Jayhawks. With the win, Lucas helped the Spartans improve their winning streak to nine games while extending the home-court winning streak to 27 games.

For the week, Lucas shot .579 from the field, .714 from three-point range and .882 from the foul line.

MSU's win over Kansas was its first win over a defending national champion at the Breslin Center since defeating UConn, 85-66, on Feb. 5, 2000.

The award is Lucas' first of his career and he is the second Spartan to win the award this season as Raymar Morgan garnered the accolade last week.